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Fresh Direct returns to Isuzu for food service

Rigids
Following the success of its first 20 Isuzu 7.5-tonne rigids, delivered in 2009, food service company Fresh Direct has taken delivery of another batch.
The order involves 39 N75.190 4x2 Isuzu Forward refrigerated 7.5-tonne distribution trucks, which have now joined Fresh Direct's 200-plus strong UK vehicle fleet. Twenty five of the trucks have replaced existing Isuzu vehicles, while 14 are an extension for the fleet, reflecting Fresh Direct's growth. "Since the original Isuzu order in 2009, we have now built up three years of meaningful operating data on the performance of the Isuzu Forward vehicles," comments Nick Allen, head of business improvement at Fresh Direct. "We have found them to be robust and reliable vehicles in operation, with excellent fuel consumption," he continues. "However, it is their impressive payload capacity of three tonnes that is critical to the success of the intensive multi-drop operation in which they operate." All 39 vehicles have been fitted with Isuzu's Easyshift transmission. They were also specified with a single compartment RVL refrigerated body, using Carrier Transicold Xarios refrigeration systems, and are capable of carrying an eight-pallet load. The vehicles have been taken on a three-year contract, covering approximately 45,000km per vehicle per annum, with each vehicle handling between 15 and 18 drops on their daily delivery cycle.

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